For the past 6 years, Trae Young has been the centerpiece and icon of the Atlanta Hawks. Trading this player to other teams seems almost unimaginable to NBA fans.
However, with the Atlanta Hawks recently acquiring the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, some believe the Hawks should consider selecting a younger player to completely rebuild the team, as Trae Young still lacks many qualities to become a team-carrying superstar in the near future.
Dejounte Murray has expressed excitement about the Atlanta Hawks acquiring the No. 1 pick. However, he also cannot be certain about his future with the Atlanta Hawks, and the possibility of Murray leaving is even higher.
Dejounte Murray is clearly not the only player with the potential to leave. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the possibility of the Atlanta Hawks engaging in trade negotiations involving Trae Young is possible, depending on the decision of the leadership during the summer of 2024.
In fact, the combination of Trae Young and promising player Alexander Sarr in the 2024 NBA Draft would bring benefits to the Atlanta Hawks in the future. However, considering the possibility of Trae Young leaving, The Sporting News will outline potential destinations for the 1998-born player.
Potential destinations for Trae Young
Los Angeles Lakers
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers previously expressed interest in Trae Young during the 2023/24 midseason transfer window. However, they did not have attractive trade packages at that time.
By the summer of 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers will have added flexibility with the inclusion of a first-round pick in the 2031 NBA Draft in their trade packages. Additionally, they currently possess 5 second-round picks in the upcoming years.
At 25 years old, Trae Young could potentially be a successor to LeBron James upon his retirement. The combination of Trae Young and Anthony Davis also presents many intriguing possibilities, but there will be certain weaknesses as Trae Young requires significant defensive support from the entire system to compensate for his defensive shortcomings.
To execute this deal, the Los Angeles Lakers would need to include players with salaries close to Trae Young’s $43 million figure. Players like Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Gabe Vincent could be included in negotiations, along with additional draft picks to sweeten the deal.
However, this scenario is deemed highly unlikely. The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly unwilling to part ways with Austin Reaves in any trade scenario. While the Lakers could potentially include Jarred Vanderbilt as a replacement, this would significantly impact the team’s defensive capabilities.
San Antonio Spurs
A rather ideal destination for Trae Young could be the San Antonio Spurs, as they are in need of a high-quality guard to pair with Victor Wembanyama. Moreover, the Spurs already possess the necessary assets to entice the Atlanta Hawks, such as first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and the option to swap picks in 2026. These are precisely the resources that the Hawks require for rebuilding, especially if they decide to trade Trae Young.
Additionally, the San Antonio Spurs could sweeten the deal by including second-round picks in the NBA Draft to further enhance the appeal for the Atlanta Hawks. Furthermore, both sides have a good relationship following the recent Dejounte Murray trade, adding to the potential feasibility of such a transaction.
In addition, the San Antonio Spurs currently have around $20 million available in salary cap space, and utilizing Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson with a combined salary of $35 million would not be an issue. The salary difference could be absorbed into the Spurs’ remaining salary cap space, leaving them with approximately $12 million to further supplement their roster through free agency.
However, this idea also has certain weaknesses. Victor Wembanyama will require a guard who is more oriented towards playmaking and ball distribution rather than a scoring-focused star with limitations like Trae Young.
In addition, the San Antonio Spurs currently have around $20 million available in salary cap space, and utilizing Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson with a combined salary of $35 million would not be an issue. The salary difference could be absorbed into the Spurs’ remaining salary cap space, leaving them with approximately $12 million to further supplement their roster through free agency.
However, this idea also has certain weaknesses. Victor Wembanyama will require a guard who is more oriented towards playmaking and ball distribution rather than a scoring-focused star with limitations like Trae Young.
Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic currently boasts a roster filled with talented young players, but they lack a true floor general to lead the team. Paolo Banchero often assumes this role quite effectively, but he can fully unleash his potential only if relieved of ball-handling duties and focused primarily on attacking in the forward position.
Similar to the San Antonio Spurs scenario, Orlando Magic has $25 million in available salary cap space. Cole Anthony, Jett Horward, and first-round draft picks from 2024 to 2026 could also be included in the trade package to garner attention from the Atlanta Hawks.